The young Onondaga, without a word, set out at a running walk, and the others followed close behind. It was a plain trail. Evidently the warriors had no idea that they were followed, and the same was true of Black Rifle. Tayoga soon announced that both pursuers and pursued were going slowly, and, when the last sunlight was fading, they stopped at the crest of a hill and called, imitating first the cry of a wolf, and then the cry of an owl. "He can't be more than three or four hundred yards away," said Willet, "and he may not understand either cry, but he's bound to know that they mean something." "Suppose we stand out here where he can see us," said Robert. "He must be lurking in the thickets just ahead." "The simplest way and so the right way," said Willet. "Come forth, you lads, where the eyes of Black Rifle may look upon you." The three advanced from the shelter of the woods, and stood clearly outlined in an open space. A whistle came from a thicket scarce a hundred yards before them, and then they saw the striking figure of the great, swarthy man emerging. He came straight toward them, and, although he would not show it in his manner, Robert saw a gleam of gladness in the black eyes. "What are you doing here, you three?" he asked. "Following you," replied Robert in his usual role of spokesman. "Why?" "Tayoga saw the trail of the Indians overlaid by yours. We knew you were pursuing them, and we've come to stop you." "By what right?" "Because you're needed somewhere else. You're to go with us to Fort Refuge." "What has happened?" "Braddock's army was destroyed near Fort Duquesne. The general and many of his officers were killed. The rest are retreating far into the east. We're on our way to Fort Refuge to save the garrison and people if we can, and you're to go with us." Black Rifle was silent a moment or two. Then he said: "I feared Braddock would walk into an ambush, but I hardly believed his army would be annihilated. I don't hold it against him, because he turned my men and me away. How could I when he died with his soldiers?" "He was a brave man," said Robert. "I'm glad you found me. I'll leave the five Indians, though I could have ambushed 'em within the hour. The whole border must be ablaze, and they'll need us bad at Fort Refuge." The three, now four, slept but little that night and they pressed forward all the next day, their anxiety to reach the fort before an attack could be made, increasing. It did not matter now if they arrived exhausted. The burden of their task was to deliver the word, to carry the warning. At dusk, they were within a few miles of the fort. An hour later they noticed a thread of blue smoke across the clear sky. "It comes from the fort," said Tayoga. "It's not on fire?" said Robert, aghast. "No, Dagaeoga, the fort is not burning. We have come in time. The smoke rises from the chimneys." "I say so, too," said Willet. "Unless there's a siege on now, we're ahead of the savages."